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T. H. BROCKMAN. INTERNAL COMBUSTION TURBINE.

- AP?L|CATION HLED JMLZO. I919. 1,315,906.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

4 SHEETS--SHEET1.

'lamenkn 2. E Brae/7320mm ZRRMW as c o a Q Q Movwag T. H. BROCKMAN.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.20,1919.

'1 ,3 1 5, 906 Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LNHAM I/mama a 8 WW mym T. H. BROCKMAN.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.20. 1919.

1 3 1 5, 906 Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

1''. 157. Bro cWwuw u T. H. BROCKMAN.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.20. I919.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

4 SHEET$-SHEET 4 IE Erod/man EEEMMN w m n 3 Y'UNITED STATES mom a.naocxm, or NEW Og-Luns, Looming;

mrmat-donnmroiw rrmmma To all whom; it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. BR0011- MAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, re-

siding at New Orleans, in the parish of" Orleans and State of Louisiana,have invented new and useful Improvements in Internal-CombustionTurbines, of which the following is a specification;

This invention relates to improvements in internal combustion turbinesand has particular application to an internal combus may beadvantageously employed and the maximum power of the turbine deliveredirrespective of the grade of fuel used, and wherein the formation ofcarbon Will be reduced to a minimum. i

It is also my purpose to provide a turbine of the class describedwhichwill be con structed in such manner as to occupy small space whencompared with a steam motor or other power plant developlng like horsepower; and will Wei 'h proportionately less,

and which will invo ve compartively small expense both in installationand maintenance.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an internalcombustion reaction turbine wherein the speed of the rotor may beregulated at will so that the power delivered by the turbine will becommensurate with the work to be performed, and- Wherein the explosionchambers, the reaction nozzles and the blade cooperating with suchnozzles willbe maintained at a proper working temperature in theoperation of the turbine thereby preventing overheating and enabling theturbine to deliver its maximum power under all conditions.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a turbine of theclass set forth wherein the component parts will be so arranged andcorrelated as to reduce the possibility of derangement to a minimum,

and which will be simple, positive and re liable in operation. With theabove reclted ob ects in view and others ofa similar nature, theInvention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement ofparts set forth in and Specification a! Letter; intent.

Application illed January 20, 1910. le riel iio. 272,085.

falling within the scope of the appended claims. r I

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a lon itudinal vertical section.of an internal com ustion reaction turbine,

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

constructed in accordance with my present invention. I

F1g. 2 1s a vertlcal transverse sectional view.

Fig. is a slmllar view taken in a different plane.

Fig. 4.- is an enlarged cross sectional view through the valvemechanism.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the iommutator and timing mechanismthere- Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of the rotors and .stationaryblades coacting therev with.

Figs. 7 and 8 are viewsof details of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, ,1-1 designates pedestalssuitably spaced apart, while 22 indicates bearings suitably mounted onthe upper ends of the pedestals 1-1 respectlvely. Journaled in thebearings 22 is a shaft 3 adapted'to rotate in the bearings. The bearings2-2 are of any suitable .or preferred construction.

Surrounding the shaft 3 concentrically thereof is a casing 4: arrangedbetween the bearings 22 and composed of an annulus 5 having itsrespective ends flan ed, end plates 6 bolted to one flange end 0 theannulus 5 and an end plate 7 bolted to the other flanged end of theannulus. The end plate 7 is formed in such a manner as to provide anexhaust chamber 8 of appropriate dimension.

Fixed upon the shaft 3 inthe casing "or housing 4 and arrangedconcentrically of the shaft is a rotor 9 comprising a side plate 10spaced apartashort distance from the end plate 6 of the casing, a sideplate 11 spaced apart a great distance from the end plate 7 of thecasing and an annular ring 12 arranged between the plates 10 and 11 atthe outer ed es of the latter and suitably bolted or ot e'rwise fastenedtosuch side plates 10 and 11. t

In the present instance, the annulus 5 in-; creases in diameter from theend plate '6 toward the end plate 7 and the outer su'r-' face of theannular ring 12 is similarly formed so. as 'to-conform to the "shape ofas substantially saucer-like in shape with the-outer or peri heral edgestra1ghtto"ac- Q j 1,a15,9oe

each embodying inner and outer rings and the annulus 5. In this "formfmyinvention an annular seriesof blades between such I have shown theside plate 11 of'the rotor the rotor. The'inner rings of the rotors 17rand 19 form depending flanges or ears 20 commodate' the oltsi or otherfastening, that are-arranged atthe opposlte sidesof and means soth'at'this plate may be fastenedlto bolted to a circular plate-or disk.21 that is the ring 12. The center portions of the side" I p plates and11 of the rotor are bolted orll, .bolrted or otherwise fastened to theside arranged concentricallybf :the shaft?) and otherwise :conneote'd tothe respective ends late-=11 of the-rotor at the center of-the of-asleeve13 that is arranged "concentri'e I aztter. -"By,means of theconstruction and feet, the hubjof the rotor.

' to form these explosion chambers I employ a number of partitionplates14that radiate from theF hub 13 and have-the side edges thereof inengagement-with the respectlve "sidewallsl0 and 11 of'the rotor, a1idfthe v outer "edge fastened to or-integral with'the inner "walloflthefiannular ring '12. In the h r fpresent instance the partitionplates i are f el} u the Qg'aB'esT" lea spaced apart equaldistanjcesaroundjthehub cally of th main shaft 3 and formsyingef arranfiment oftherotors, and r .statorsjust "'descri d, it will be seen that the gaseslssufing from the reaction nozzles impact upon j thebladesjofnthestators and react-against the blades of the rotors with the efiect to vdrivethef-rotors'in onedireotion: As the .The rotor 9 is divided'fintoseries of explosion chambers "and in order 55 3 111? that {thecfisnswbjected to it the ,fullexpansion l 'offthe "maximu power may, e

{taken from the {they are -discharged into or of the rotor tOfpI'OVldQflplurality voilek bet- I dI TOm lthf exhaust chamber --jplo sionchambers, In. the presentinst'anoethrqughi he;exhause ortaa therein. i

to provide apluralityfof reaction nozzles :15 that are arrangediattheouter ends 'ofith'e' I inner end of the nozzle is adapted for corn'muni'cation Wlth such chamber, while the 0 outer end ofthe. nozzleopenstonto' the ex- Bolted or otherwise fastened :to the. inner surfaceof --theannulus 5 contiguous to the -'-exhaust side of the ring 12 is astator 16 in V l projecting impact blades 16 that are adapted to receivethe impact-of the gases .PSSlllIlg from the reaction nozzle so that suchgases may react upon the nozzles and drive i is shown as a multiplestage turbine. Therep and a rotor 19 contiguous to the exhaust statorsand rotors alternate with one an-' distancesfaround the stator.

I have shown eight. ofjfsuchchambersiia'nd these are designated by theletters'fa, -"With a longitudinalybore23 that ex:

6, f, g, and h respectively. I p I p p p The annular ring 12 of therotor is formed gh y yond the jean-ten of the rotorfand. ;:fonned'finthe-shaft 3 contig ous jtotthe inner endjfoftheHbore 2eularyseriess Fand explosion chambers respectively; Iil lihfif I respective ports .24:in otter Ommunication therewma The'fp rt 24g-corrjespond in nume'totheieip p mfi l. theinner TQlIdS-Of the-latter, while the portsplosion Chambe I j ends of such chambersrespectivfely; F ginthe hub 13'at the inner end of each-T ex haust side of thering 12"of the rotor.

the form of a ring provided with inwardly and shaft 3. t

the rotor.

The present embodiment of my invention I 28 adjacent to its inner endisformed with fore a rotor 17 is shown adjacent to the ex hau-st side ofthe stator 16, ajstatorlS 'contiguous to the exhaust side of the rotor17 carbon port 30. These ports'29and 30am sidefof-the stator 18. Inother words, the

other as is usual in multiple sta turbine constructions. The stator 18is i enticalin construction with the stator 16'embodyi inner and outerrings and an annular series c blades between the -ring sspaced apartequal The rotors 17 and 19 alternate with the stators 16 and 18-interior of the sleeve valve land the series of inner end of ahydrocarbon conveying tube rings spaced apart equaldistances around irttorsgl't and v 19 are-fixed" to,. the; plate 2l, and the lattersecured to'fthe rotorj'9; it V will the. present instance, "the shaft 13adapted to register. withfihe' series 10f air." ports 24 and the seriesof hydro carbonports 25 respectively incidental to rotation'of the shaft3 and the sleevevalve-28, so that com}.

munication may be established between-the.

explosion chambers" in the rotor. 9. Inthe; present structure, the outerend"portion of the sleeve valve 28 is counterboredand fitted'into'suchcounter-bored portion is ,thef

tends; from .oneend-ofthe {shaft ;t ;,a point 9.5

IOf hydrO- 9 1 1? the vloo mber's -and open into l' o'wrr n lli numerawi j 1 plosion chamberare valve :ca'si'n gs icarrying l. puppetvalves26 and- 27respectively that. control communication betwelen the"ex plosion chamber and the rrtspond-in ,air :1

, ea rb e: 2 n lfi ifii i r -Mountedin the bore 23"is a sleeve-valve 282. capable ofirotation within "the bore'and hav ing its innerendclosed." The sleeve valve can elongated-airport 29 and a similar hydroorpipe 31, the outer end of such tube or pipe 31 extending downwardly sothat a connection may be made between the tube and a source ofhydrocarbon fluid supply. A

packing gland 32 encircles the tube 31 adjacent to its outer end and iscarried by the outer end of the sleeve valve so as to effect a fluidtight connection between the sleeve valve and the hydro-carbon fluidconducting tube. This pacxing glandpermits the sleev valve to revolvewhile the hydrocarbon con ductin tube remains stationary. Extendingthrough the tube 31 and the sleeve valve and spaced apart from the tubeand the valve is an air conducting tube 33 whose inner end terminatesshort of the inner closed end of the sleeve valve and is formed with aboss 34 that engages the inner wall of the sleeve valve at a pointbetween the series of ports 24 and 25 so as to prevent intercommunicaedelivered through the proper port to. the

explosion chambers and the hydro-carbon liquid or gas delivered to theexplosion chambers through the ports 25, both sets of ports beingcontrolled by the sleeve valve 28.

Communication between the reaction nozzles 15 and the respectiveexplosion chambers is controlled by means of valves and operatingmechanism for such valves. In the present instance, each valve is of therocking or oscillatory type and comprises a plug or body 35 extendingacross the inner end of the corresponding reaction nozzle 15 having itsends journaled in the respective end Walls of such nozzle. The end ofeach plug 35 adjacent to the side plate 10 of the rotor is formed with astub shaft 36 that projects beyond the plate 10, while the sides of thevalve plug or body are cut out to pro vide ports 37. Integral, orotherwise connected, to the inner'side of the annulus 12 and surroundingthe inner portions of the respective valve bodies or plugs aresemi-cirplates 6 and 10 and astrap 41 encircling the eccentric 40 andequipped with laterallypro jecting pins 42 correspondin in number withthe number of valves. Jach pin 42 is connected with the correspondingvalve by means of a rod 43, the inner end of which is my present form ofthe turbine.

mounted upon the pin, while the outer end is pivotally connected with arocker arm 44 secured to'the stub shaft 36 of the articular valve.Bymeans of this construction it will be seen that when the eccentric isheld stationary upon the main shaft 3, or revolved at a speed less thanthe speed of the main shaft, motion will be transmitted from'theeccentric strap all through the rod 43 to the rocker arms of the stubshafts of the valves, thereby rocking or oscillating the valves in theinner ends of the reaction nozzles. Also surrounding the shaft 3adjacent to the eccentric 40 and integral with such eccentric orotherwise connected thereto is an annulus 45 having its periphery formedwith spur teeth or sprocket teeth.

In the present instance I have shown an electric motor 46 mounted uponthe bearing tube at the inlet side of the turbine and one end of thearmature shaft of the motor 46 extends through the plate 6 and isequipped with a pinion 47 over which and the toothed annulus 45 istrained an endless chain 47 whereby motion may be transmitted to theeccentric -16. On' the other end of the armature shaft of the motor 46is a pinion 48, while fixed upon the projecting end of the sleeve valve28 is a gear 49 and over the pinion 47 and the gear 49 is trained anendless chain 50 whereby motion may be trans mitted from the armatureshaft of the motor to the sleeve valve to revolve the latter.

I will now proceed to describe the ignition system which is used inconnection 1s mechanism or system, in the present instance, embodiesspark plugs 51 secured in the side plate 10 of the rotor and projectinginto the respective explosion chambers of the rotor. Fixed to themainshaft 3 is a commutator ring 52 arranged contiguous to the sideplate 10 and embedded in the outer face or side of the ring 52 arecontact studs 53 corresponding in number with the number of explosionchambers in the rotor. Each contact stud 53 is connected by means of awire 5% with the central electrode of the corresponding spark plug 51,the other electrode of the spark plug being grounded upon the plate 10.Mounted in a transverse bore formed in the casting composing the annulus4:5 and eccentric 40 is aspring pressed brush 55 that bears, at alltimes, against the outer face of the commutator ring 52 so as to engagethe contact studs 53 successively in the operation of the turbine. Asecond spring pressed brush 56 is slidably mounted within a bore in theend plate 6 and the end of the brush 56 at the inner side of the plate 6engages or presses against a'conducting ring57 embedded in the annulusl5 and insulated therefrom and electrically connected with the brush 55.The outer end of the brush 56 is connected with a binding post 58 towhich one terminalof the ignition circuit wire may be connected, theother terminal of the ignition circuit being grounded so that currentmay flow through the particular plug in connection with the contact stud53 that is engaged by the brush 55, thereby enabling the plug to producethe necessary spark to explode the mixture in the particular explosionchamber.

In practice, the air port in the sleeve valve 28 is arranged in advanceof the hy- I dro-carbon port 30 so that the explosion of thehydro-carbon fluid thereto. As shown chamber at the beginning of a cyclewill receive a charge of air prior to the delivery in Fig. 3 of thedrawing, the explosion chamber a is at the beginning of a cycle and isreceiving the charge of air through the air pipe 33, the port 29, theport 24 and -the puppet valve 26. At the beginning of sion chamberthrough the valve 27, the exhaust valve, in this position of theexplosion chamber, remaining closed. When explosion chamber it 'moves'from the position of the chamber 5 to the position of chamber a, theport 30 in the sleeve valve continues to esta lish communication betweenthe hydro-carbon supply and the explosiomchamher and the exhaust valveremains closed.

' When the explosion chamber a reaches the position of'the chamber d,the brush 55 engages the contact stud 53, the spark plug of suchexplosion chamber to the eifect to I explode the charge of air and thehydr -carbon fuel or fluid mingled in the explosion chamber 11. When thechamber a reaches the position of the chamber 6, the pressure in suchchamber due to the explosion has risen to the maximum degree and whenthe position of chamber 7 is reached, the expanding gases are deliveredto the reaction nozzle by the way of the open exhaust valve, the exhaustvalve openingwhen this position is reached. When the chamber a reachesthe position of the chamber g the gases continue to flow through thereaction nozzle and when'the position of the chamber it is reached, theair port 29 is the sleeve valve again establishe communication betweenthe source of air supply and the particular explosion chamber while theexhaust valve ofsuch chamber remains open thereby enabling thescavenging charge of air to be drawn through the explosion chamber todrive out the burned product of combustion that may remain in thechamber.

, From the time that the explosion takes place in a particular explosionchamber, communication between the source of air supply and the sourceof hydro-carbon supply is cut off by means of the sleeve valve 28 andthis communication is not 0 ened until mately one-half of the speed ofthe turbine rotor, the above cycle of operation will be repeated atevery two revolutions of the turbine rotor, while, if the rotary valve28 is speeded up by the motor 46 so that such rotary valve revolves atthe same speed as the rotor of the turbine, the turbine will ceaseoperating owing to the fact that the relative position of the sleevevalve and the rotor remain the same therebybreaking' up the cycle ofoperation and bringing the rotor to a stop. On the other hand, thesleeve valve 28 may be s ceded up by the motor 46 to such an extent t ata relatively heavy charge is admitted in the combustion or explosionchamber thereby enabling more power to be developed. Again, the motor 46may be out out of operation and in this event the sleeve will be heldstationary likewise, the brush 55, the i ition system and the eccentricof the va ve mechanism. When this occurs, the previously described cycleof operation takes place at every revolution 'of the rotor. From this,it will be seen that the speed of the rotor, or'the amount of powerdelivered by the rotor, may be' controlled byv varying-the speed of themotor 46.

When the speed of the motor 46 is changed the spark is advanced orretarded according tdthe speed of the rotor and the operation of boththe inlet and exhaust valves is changed so that the rotor will operateat the desired speed thereby enabling the desired power to be taken fromthe shaft ,3 of the turbine.

In the present embodiment of my inven-.

tion, a pipe 60 of relatively small diameter extends through the airconducting pipe 33 and the outer end of this pipe 60 projects beyond theair conducting ipe 33 while the other end of the pipe 60 1s fixed in theshaft 3 beyond the inner end of the sleeve valve 28. The inner end ofthe pipe 60 communicates with passages 61 fprmed in the shaft 3 radiallyof the latterancl these passages 61 open into the chamber 62 formed 1nthe respective partition plate 14 of the rotor, the chamber 62communicating with an annular chamber 63 formed in the annular ring 12.The outer end of the pipe 60 is adapted for connection with a source ofwater, steam or other tempering agent and this tempering agent passesthrough the passages 61, the chamber 62 and the chamber 63 commingleswith the products of combustion issuing through the reaction nozzles 15thereby preventing overheating of the turbine in the operation thereof.

While I have herein shown and described one particular form of myinvention by way of illustration, I Wish it to be understood that I donot limit or confine myself to the precise details of constructionherein described and delineated, as modification and variation may bemade withinthe scope of the claims and without departing from the spiritof the invention.

I claim 1. In an internal combustion turbine, a main shaft formed with alongitudinal bore and with transverse ports communicating with saidbore, means for delivering fuel to said bore, a sleeve valve in saidbore, controllino communication between the bore and said transverseports, a rotor on said shaft formed with explosion chamberscommunicating with said ports and adapted to receive fuel chargesthrough the ports from said valves and also formed with reaction nozzlesin communication with said chamhere, means for exploding the charges insaid chambers, means acted upon by the discharges from the reactionnozzles to drive said rotor, and means for rotating said valve atdifferent speeds to control the speed and power output of said rotor.

2. In an internal combustion turbine, a casing, a main shaft formed witha longitudinal bore and with transverse ports communicating with saidbore, means for delivering fuel to said bore, a sleeve valve in saidbore controlling communication be tween the bore and said transverseport, a rotor on said shaft formed with explosion chambers communicatingwith said ports and adapted to receive fuel through said ports from saidvalve, means for exploding the charges in said combustion chambers,means acted upon by said exploding charges to drive. said motor, meansfor rotating said valve at different speeds to cont-r01 the speed andpower of said rotor, said means including a driving connection exteriorof the casing, and means connecting said firstnamed means to saidlast-named means whereby the time of the spark may be varied inaccordance with the speed of the engine.

3. In an internal combustion turbine, a main shaft formed with alongitudinal bore and with transverse ports communicating with. saidbore, means for delivering fuel to said here, a sleeve valve in saidbore controllmg communlcation. between the bore and sald transverseports, a rotor on said shaft formed with explosion chamberscommunicating with said ports respectively and adapted to receive fuelcharges through said ports from said valves, means for exploding thecharges in said combustion chambers, means acted upon by said explodingcharges to drive said rotor, and means for rotatlng said valve atdiflerent speeds to control the speed and power output of said rotor.

4. In an internal combustion turbine, a main shaft formed with alongitudinal bore and with transverse ports communicating with saidbore, means for delivering fuel to said bore, a sleeve valve in saidbore controlling communication between the bore and said transverseport, a rotor on said shaft formed with explosion chambers communicatingwith said ports respectively and adapted to receive fuel charged throughsaid ports from said valve, means for exploding the charges in saidcombustion chambers, means" acted upon by said explod:

ing charges to drive said rotor, and means.

for rotating said valve at different speeds to control the speed and'power of said rotor,

and means connecting said first named means to said last named meanswhereby the time of the spark maybe varied in accordance with the speedof the engine.

5. Inan internal combustion turbine, a rotor formed with a circularseries of explosion chambers, reaction nozzles at the outer ends of saidchambers respectively;

tric, a strap encircling said eccentric, connections between said strapand valves, and a motor connected with said eccentric to revolve thesame, change the speed thereof and hold. the same stationary in therotation of the rotor whereby the speed of the rotor may be varied.

6. In I an internal combustion turbine, a rotor formed with a series ofexplosion chambers, reaction nozzles at the outer ends of said chambersrespectively. stationary blades communicating with said nozzles toreceive the impact of the gases issuing from the nozzles whereby thegases may react on said nozzles ,to drive said rotor, means for feedingan explosive mixture to .said chambers, and means for exploding saidmixture within said chambers, valves controlling communication betweensaid cham bers and nozzles respectively, a valve operating mechanlsmcompris ng an eccentric, a

strap encircling said eccentric, connections between sald straps andvalves, and a motor connected with said eccentric to revolve the same,change the speed thereof and hold the same stationary in the rotation ofthe rotor 'whereby the speed of said rotor may be varied, and mechanismconnecting said mix-- ture exploding means with -said motor whereby theaction of the ignition mecha- A nism W111 be advanced and retarded tovary THOMAS H. BROCKMAN.

in accordance .with the

